Award-winning producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland have sued Triller for $28 million, alleging the platform missed multiple Verzuz payments.
According to reports, Swizz and Timbaland filed a $28 million lawsuit against Triller in Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 16. In the suit, both producers accused the video-sharing service of missing multiple Verzuz payments and failing to compensate them adequately per their previous agreement with the platform. In 2021, it was reported that Triller acquired the popular music battle series–founded by Swizz and Timbaland–in January of that year.
The superproducers’ suit has indicated that Triller “unequivocally and unconditionally guaranteed to Mosley and Dean the payment and performance of Triller Hold’s obligations under that agreement and related agreements” but haven’t upheld those terms. Their lawyers added that Triller “refused” to respond to letters demanding rightful payment.
“Defendants have failed and refused to respond to plaintiffs’ written notice and demand for payment,” Swizz and Timbaland’s lawyers wrote in the complaint. “To date, defendants have failed and refused to make any payment to Mosley and Dean of the past due sums due and owing, and defendants continue in default of their payment obligations.”
Triller has since responded with a statement, saying that they “hope it was a misunderstanding.”
“We do not wish to air our dirty laundry in the press, but we have paid Swizz and Tim millions in cash and in stock,” the company wrote. “No one has benefited as much from Triller to-date. Triller has helped fuel Verzuz to new heights – making it the global cultural phenomenon it is today. We hope to resolve this amicably and quickly, and truly hope it’s just a misunderstanding. If we are forced to defend it, we are more than optimistic the truth and facts are on our side.”
In another statement, Triller said Swizz and Timbaland were already paid “over $50 million in cash and stock to-date” and that the company believed the two hadn’t yet met the required thresholds for more payments.
The Verzuz founders have also been seeking $95,000 as interest and attorneys’ fees, among other costs, reports said.
Swizz and Timbaland initially launched Verzuz in March 2020, amid the global shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The now-legendary series has featured battles between top artists in various genres, including Hip-Hop, R&B, Dancehall, Gospel, and more.
